Good, Clear Vision


CHIP SHERER President


I want to look forward in the remainder of this article by focusing on the 2026– 2030 Strategic Plan, adopted by our Bonclarken Board of Trustees last May. This  not only where our Board believes the Lord is leading us today, but it also states the values that have shaped Bonclarken for more than a century.


Our Mission, Our Vision, and Our Values 


’m grateful to Synod Modera- tor David Walkup for inviting me to expand my article this month and share more about Bon-     Many of you know that the word Bonclarken literally means good, clear vision.


I In 1921, as Mr. Robert Galloway


searched for a name for the newly acquired property that would serve as the ARP assembly grounds, Sallie Miller Brice suggested Bon-clar-ken. She explained that bon comes from the Latin bonus (“good”), clar from the Latin clarus (“clear”), and ken from the Scotch (“vision”). Bon-clar- ken—good, clear vision. Mr. Ira Jones  with the name, wrote that “the prop- erty was not named for its beauty (as beautiful as it is) but for the hopes and aspirations of the ARP people.” Well said.


Since then, Bonclarken has stood as a beacon, calling ARPs from around the world to gather for fellowship, friendship, and worship of our great God. I’ve heard countless stories of people hearing and responding to the call of the Holy Spirit during their time here. Bonclarken has fostered connections—and played a vital role in the connectional reputation our ARP denomination enjoys.


I could write volumes about past happenings, each one an example of God’s hand on our ministry. Instead,


6 The Associate Reformed Presbyterian


  hosting worship services and events that proclaim the gospel, foster spiritual growth, and equip guests to deepen their relationship with God through Jesus  - scribe as the “Bonclarken Way”:   servanthood.


• Gracious Welcome – We uphold our tradition of warm hospitality, making our guests feel expected and cared for in every way.


• Generational Stewardship – We honor the legacy of servant leadership of those who built this place as we prepare to pass it to the next generation.


• Joyful Abundance – We joyfully trust God’s provision, recognizing we are stewarding God’s gifts.


 


Many of you have witnessed these values lived out across decades of camps and conferences, church retreats, Synod meetings, and quiet personal visits. This Plan seeks to strengthen these values.


Four Areas of Focus for the Years 2026-2030


1. People and Culture: Bonclarken’s ministry is carried out by the men and women who serve here.


Synod Emphasis - Bonclarken


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32